Snubbed truck



R. c. PIERCE March 9,1948.

sNBBED TRUCK Filed July 27, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 9, 1948. R, C, MERCE 2,437,359

SNUBBED TRUCK Filed July 27, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Marcil 9, 1948. R, Q MERCE SNUBBED "rRUcK Filed July 27, 1944 '3 Sheets-Sheet 5 e .Mm

Patented Mar. e, 194s UNITED STATES PATENT "OFFICE SNUBBED TRUCK y 1 n Raymond C. IFierce, Chicago, Ill. Application Julyl, 1944, Serial No. 546,826

bolster are so constructed and arranged as tov permit the application or removal of the bolsterl from the bolster opening While the spring group remains in normal position on the spring seat in the side frame. l

The general object of my invention is to provide a novel relatively simple and easily controlled snubbing arrangement for such a type of railway car truck wherein the snubbing elements may be wholly conned within the end vof the bolster for engagement with friction faces afforded on the spaced columns of the side frame.

A more specific object of my invention is to provide an improved form of snubbed quick wheel change railway cartruck wherein friction shoes are mounted at opposite sides of each bolster end and resilient means is compressed between the shoes and so arranged as to afford suflicient downward component against the friction shoes as to overcome any tendency of the shoes to slide upwardly away from their seat against the bottom portion of the bolster as the bolster moves downward. Such tendency, of course, will not be present as `the bolster is moving upwardly.

It has been found that it is highly desirable to maintain the friction shoes at a constant position with respect to thelll bolster as far as vertical movements are concerned so that there willbe no play between the shoe and the bolster during such `vertical movements and a constant snubbing effect may thereby be secured by the friction shoes against the adjacent side frame columns. My novel arrangement comprehends 'suchva device as that described wherein a relatively heavy spring or springs vmay be arcuately preformed and positioned between the friction shoes at opposite sides of the bolster end ,and

4 wherein guide means is provided on the bolster the before-mentioned arcuate spring may seat iny order to secure the before-mentioned vertical force component on the shoe and prevent lost motion between the shoe and the bolster.

My invention comprehends a noVel\\arrange ment such as that above referred to, whe ein a plurality of friction shoes may be supported in 26 Claims. (Cl. 105-197) y each end of the bolster and arranged for engagement with the respective side frame columns between which the bolster end may be confined and wherein a single arcuate coil spring or a plurality of arcuate coil springs may be compressed between the shoes at opposite sides of the bolster and arranged to bear against a wall of the bolster in such manner as to afford the `mately in the transverse vertical plane bisecting the truck as indicated by the line 2-2 of Figure l, with the bolster shown in side elevation.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of the truck shown in Figures 1 and 2, approximately in the horizontal vertical plane indicated by the line 3-3 of Figure 2,/ the left half of the bolster end being shown in top plan view.

Figures 4 and 5 show my'novel form of friction shoe, Figure 4 being a plan view thereof, taken from the inner face, and Figure'5 being a vertical sectional view therethrough, approximately bisecting the shoe -as indicated by the line 5-5-of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view comparable to that shown at the right of Figure 1,

illustrating a modification of my invention utilizing a plurality of coil springs in each end of the bolster.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional view through the structure shown in Figure 6, the section being taken approximately in the horizontal transverse plane indicated by the line 1--1 of Figure 6.

Figures 8 and 9 illustrate the novel form of' friction shoe utilized in the modification illustrated in Figures 6 and 7, Figure 8 being a plan view of the spring-engaging face thereof and Figure 9 a side elevation. f

My noyel form of truck utilizes a side frame of well' known cast steel truss type comprising the compression member 2, the tension member 4, and spaced columns 6 and 8 merging therewith to form the bolster opening I0. The upper portion of said bolster opening, as defined by said compression member, columns and the upper extremities I2, I2 of the central guide portions I4, I4 of respective columns, is relatively wide in order to accommodate therethrough the outboard bolster guide gibs I6, I6 which have a depth somewhat less than the height of said Vwidened portion ofthe bolster opening.

Beneath the bolster opening, the tension mem#- .ber 4 may bewidened and formed with upstand- `ing-,outboard and inboard flanges I8 and 20l de- "ning'with the top chord of said tension member the spring seat 22 on which may be positioned in usual manner the `coil springs, diagrammaticallyjindicated at 24,A 24, said springs being illustrated as relatively long travel type. Theupper ends. of said springs may seat as tionedoutboard guide lugs of relatively restricted length may` have similar position with respect to at 30, 3|)y i art that the spring and shoes are assembled in 4 tion shoe pocket 15, may have aligned openings 90, 90, which have some overlap with the beforementioned opening 60 in the friction shoe when assembled between said walls so that a -bar or vit other means maybe extended therethrough to maintain said shoe in a position within said ,bolster during application or removal thereof.

Also, the outboard web of. each column may have a cored opening 92 (Figure 3) affording a seat for a, pinch bar or other means which may facilitate moving the bolster laterally when it is desired to iix the position of the shoes within the bolster l' end. It will be understood by those skilled in the the bolster and fixed therein, as above indicated,

" prior to insertion of the bolster end between the thefopposite or outboard lface of each column as .at 38." "Each side frame column .is of general Ul section,'as well seen at 40 in Figure 3, and the inboard face of each column is cored away to permit application of the wear plate .42V against which may seat in fiat face frictional engage- Anient as at 44 the friction shoe 46. i

' Each friction shoe 4s is of the form illustrated in Figures '4` and 5, presenting the fiat vertical friction face 48 of rectangular form, said face 48 shoe. The shoe may have lateral side walls 50, 50

3() representing the entire surface of one side of said side frame columns as the truck is assembled. Similarly, the shoes are pressed inwardly and secured in anxed position when it is desired to-remove the bolster assembly from the side frame opening. This procedure would be extremely difl cult if there were no means of securing the shoes in the bolster assembly. I

' In the modification illustrated in Figures 6 and i 7, I have illustrated my novel arrangement as applied to a bolster end utilizing a plurality of ompression springs instead of a single spring. By utilizing a plurality of springsh it is possible to secure a somewhat greater arcuation of the spring and more capacity with less stress than is A possible when a single spring is used.

with horizontal upper edges 52, 52 affording convenient bearing areas which may seat against the v bottom wall of the bolster as at 54 (Figure 1) in case the friction shoe were for any reasonforced out of its normal position with respect to the bolster. Between the side walls 50, 50 atopposite sides of each shoe may be formed a diagonal spring seat 56 centrally of which may be providedl the upstanding lug or positioning means 58."'Each shoe may have therethrough a transverse opening 60 of noncircular section, as clear ly1seen in the sectional view of Figure 5. f

Each shoe may have a diagonally arranged bottom face 62, lateral portionsof which may seat as at 64 on the diagonally arranged upper surfaces 66, 66 of the wedgelike lugs 68,68 formed on the bottom wall 'i0 of the bolster end at each side thereof, said lugs being alignedtransversely and longitudinally of said bolster end, Adjacent the lugs 68, 68 at each side of the bolster may be formed inboard and outboard vertical walls 12 and 14 aifording guide means for the friction shoe which may be positioned therebetween, said walls 12 and 14 together with the top-and bottoni walls of the bolster defining a pocket or opening 15 within which the enclosed friction shoe may have movement laterally of the bolster. The topv wall V'lli of the bolster may be cored `away to form an arcuatevguideway or seat 18 for-the r.ar'clfiate compression spring 80, each end of which' may seat as at 82 against a friction shoe 46, said spring A8|! being hot formed in the arcuate shape ,illustrated asan additionaloperation after the 'spring has been wound, so thatthe spring assuines a permanent arcuate form, thereby causing a downward component as well as an'outward componentjfagainst the shoes relative to the bolster.` The bolster `28 may have the usual vertical reinforcing rib 84 jwhich may be cored away to'form an opening 86. (Figure 2) for the spring 80\ and said opening may be reinforced by the annular flanges 88, 88 at opposite' sides thereof.

` The bolster walls 12 and 14,'deiining the fric- In the modification now under consideration, only one column is illustrated and 'a half section through the bolster, approximately in the vertical plane bisecting the friction shoe. The side frame, generally designated |02, may have the column |04 cut away as comparable to the section of Figure 1 to show the friction wear plate |06 against which the friction shoe |08 may have at face engagement asv at ||0. The shoe |08 at each side of the bolster end may be pocketed in the side Wall thereof between the inboard and .outboard guide lugs ||2 and ||4 (Figure '7), in-

board and outboard lateral walls ||6 and ||8 forming with the top and bottom b olster walls |20 and |22 a pocket for said shoe. In this modication, the spring engaging face of the shoe may have a plurality of diagonally arranged spring seats |24, |24 with positioning means |26, |26, thereon, said seats being separated by an intervening reinforcing vertical flange |28. Against each spring s-eat or friction shoe face |24 may be seated a coil spring |30, said springs being diagrammatically illustrated in Figure 'I and each of said springs bearing against a channel or guideway |32 in the top wall of the bolster in manner similar tothe previous modification. The longitudinal center wall |34 of the bolster may have a plurality of transverse openings 36, |36 cored therein and flanged therearound as at |38 to afford additional guide means for the springs |30, |30, and prevent their buckling. Within the shoe pocket at each side of the bolster and on the bottom wall |22 thereof may be formed an upstanding lug |39 having a top diagonal face |4| (Figures 6 and '7) against which may seat as at |43 (Figure 6) the arcuate face |45 (Figure 8) on the bottom of the friction shoe. The arcuate face |45 on the bottom of each friction shoe may be convex in both directions in order to permit some tilting of the shoe with respect to the lug |39.

The friction shoe is generally rectangular in plan, as may clearly be seen from the view of Figure 8, having a large fiat friction face |40 comparable in size to that of the previous modiiication. Transversely through each friction shoe may be cored an opening |42, so positioned with respect to aligned openings 144, |44 in the transverse bolster walls I I6 and H8 as to permit the insertion of a rod through said wall openings and the intervening shoe to maintain the shoe in assembled relationship with respect to the bolster and permit assembling or dismantling of the bolster from the side frame opening between the columns, as may be desired for a wheel change or otherwise,

As in the previous modification, the side frame column |04 may have a cored opening,l46 (Figure 7) in the outboard flange |48, affording a foothold for a fulcrum bar or other means which may be utilized for urging the bolster laterally between the columns when it is desired to insert or remove the securing pin for the friction shoe, such lateral `movement of the bolster being effective to compress the arcuate springs between the shoes sunlciently for that purpose.

In my novel arrangementit will thus be seen that I` have so arranged the friction shoes and the resilient means compressed .therebetween that a substantial vertical component from the resilient means to each shoe urges it downwardly and this vertical component is eifective to maintain the diagonal surface at the bottom of each shoe in position against the cooperating sloping surface on the bottom of the bolster. Also, my novel friction shoes are so designed as4 to aiord large bearing area against each column and this condition is conducive to long wear and maximum life. The compression springs are adequately guided against buckling since the arcuate troughs or guides in the top wall of the bolster are supplemented by the openings in the central annular web of the bolster through winch the springs extend.

It is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited by the exact embodiments of the device shown which are merely by way of illustration and not limitation as various.and other forms of the device will, of course, be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims. I claim: Y

1. In a quick wheel change railway car truck, a truss side frame having spaced columns at opposite sides of a bolster opening, springs in said opening, a bolster supported thereon, said bolster having top and 'bottom walls, side walls, and transverse walls defining with said top, bottom and side walls aligned friction shoe pockets at oppositev sides of said bolster, friction shoes slidably seated on wedge faces in said pockets, and a resilient member compressed between said shoes and bearing against a wall of said bolster,

said resilient member having vertical thrust against said last-mentioned bolster wall and bearing against each shoe along a diagonal face to deliver a vertical component thereto.

2. In a quick wheel change railway car truck, a truss side frame having spaced columns at opposite sides of a bolster opening, springs in said opening, a bolster supported thereon, said bolster'having top and bottom walls', side walls, and transverse walls defining with said top, bottom and side walls aligned friction shoe pockets at opposite sides of said bolster, friction shoes slidably seated on wedge faces in said pockets, and a resilient member compressed between said shoes and bearing against a wall of said bolster, said resilient member having vertical thrust against said last-mentioned bolster wall and bearing against ing, a bolster spring-supported on said side frame of said bolster aligned with said columns, later-- between said columns, openings in the side walls ally movable friction shoes in said openings, and

av resilient means compressedbetween said shoes and affording a vertical thrust from said shoes to said bolster, said resilient means seating against respective shoes along reversely arranged diagonal surfaces, each of said shoes bearing against the bottom wall of said bolster on spaced diagonally arranged seats.

4. In a quick wheel change railwaycar truck,

, a truss side frame having spaced columns at opposite s ides of a bolster opening, parallel faces on oppos'ite columns, springs in said opening, a

bolster supported thereon, said bolster having top and bottom walls, side walls and transverse walls defining with said top, bottom and side walls aligned friction shoe pockets at opposite sides of said bolster, friction shoes slidably seated on wedge faces in said pockets, and resilient means having opposite ends seated respectively against reversely sloping faces of said shoes and compressed therebetween and bearing against a wall of said bolster to urge said shoes against said respective faces.

5. A bolster assembly comprising a bolster end portion of box section having topand bottom Walls, lateral walls, an intermediate web, transverse walls defining with said top, bottom and side walls friction shoe pockets aligned transversely of said bolster, wedge seats at opposite sides of each pocket, friction shoes seated thereon, a singleresilient member having its respective ends Aseated against Opposed faces of respective shoes and compressed therebetween and ybearing against a wall of said bolster to afford a vertical component between said wall and each of said shoes, and means for retaining said shoes in fixed position in said assembly to facilitate assembling with and dismantling from an associated side frame member.

6. A bolster assembly comprising a bolster end portion of box lsection havingtop and bottom walls, lateral walls, an intermediate web, transverse walls defining with said top, bottom and side walls friction shoe pockets aligned transversely of said bolster, wedge seats in said pockets, friction shoes seated thereon, a single resilient member havingits opposite ends seated against reversely diagonally arranged opposite faces of respective shoes and compressed therebetween and bearing against a wall of said bolster to afford a vertical component between said wall and each of said shoes, and means for retaining said shoes in xed position in said pockets to facilitate assembly with an associated side frame member.

7. In a railway car truck, a side frame having spaced columns defining in part a bolster opening, a bolster spring-supported on said side frame resilient means compressed between said shoes and affording a vertical thrust from said shoes to said bolster, said resilient means seating against respective shoes along reversely arranged Y diagonal surfaces.

8. In a railway car truck, a side frame having spaced columns -deiining in part a bolster opening, a bolster spring-supported on said side frame between said columns, openings in the side walls vof said bolster, aligned with said columns, latersupported thereon between said columns withy lateral pockets aligned with said columns, friction shoes in said pockets, and arcuate means compressed between the shoes and operative to urge said shoes into engagement with said co1-v umns, said arcuate meanshaving respective ends seated against reversely arranged diagonal faces on said shoes to afford a substantial vertical component thereagainst.

10. A box section bolster having topl and bottom walls, lateral walls, and an intermediate vertical web, transverse vertical Walls merging with said lateral Walls to define aligned openings at opposite sides of said bolster, and guide means for an associated spring comprising an arcuate channel in thetop wall of said bolster, annular flanges defining an opening in said web, and diagonal friction seats on the bottom wall of said bolster adjacent the transverse .walls of each opening.

11. In a railway car truck, aside frame having spaced columns defining in part a bolster opening, a bolster spring-supported on said side frame 'between said columns, openings in the side walls '8 spaced columns, a member spring-supported between said columns and having friction shoes confined between top and bottom walls thereof for engagement with4 said columns, said shoes being seated on reversely arranged diagonal portions of said bottom Wall, and an arched resilient member compressedbetween said shoes and having an .intermediate portion bearing against said top wall and delivering a substantial vertical thrust therefrom to said bottom wall through said shoes and said diagonal portions. 16. In a railway vehicle, a. supporting member having spaced vertical columns, a member springsupported thereon ybetween said columns with lateral pockets aligned with4 said columns, friction shoes in said pockets; and arcuate spring means .compressed between the shoes and a wall l ofsaid'supported member and operative to urge said shoes into engagement with a spaced wall of said supported member and also into engagement with said columns.

1'7. A cast steel bolster having a box section end portion with a top wall, a bottom wall, lateral Walls, and a vertical central web, transverse walls defining with said top and bottom walls aligned openings at opposite sidesl of said bolster with wedge lugs at opposite sides of each opening, .and an arcuate guideway in said top wall aligned with said openings,

18. A box section bolster having top and bottom'walls, lateral walls, and an intermediate vertical web, transverse vertical walls merging with said lateral walls. to define aligned openings at of said bolster aligned with said columns, later- Y ally movable friction shoes'in said openings, and

a coil spring of arcuate formA compressed between said shoes and having a portionbearing against a wall of said bolster to afford a path for vertical thrusts between said bolster and said shoes.

l2. In a railway vehicle, a supporting member having spaced Vertical columns, a member springsupported thereon between said columns with lateral pockets aligned with said columns, friction shoes in said pockets, and a spring member compressed between the shoes and arched against a wall of said supported member and operative to urge said shoes into engagement with said columns, each friction shoe being slidably and rockably seated on a diagonal wall of said supported member. V/

13. In a railway vehicle, a supporting member having spaced vertical coulmns, a memberspringsupported thereon between said columns with lateral pockets aligned with said columns, friction shoes in said pockets, and an arched metal member compressed between the shoes and operative to urg'e said shoes into engagement with said columns, each friction shoe being rcckably seated on a diagonal surface on said supported member, and said arched member being operative to de- -liverthrust from a spaced wall of said supported member through said shoes to said diagonal surface.

14. A cast steel bolster having a Abox sectio end portion with a top wall, a bottom wall, lateral walls, and a vertical central web, trans'-, verse walls defining with "said top and bottom opposite sides" of said bolster, and guide means for an associated sp-ring comprising an arcuate channel in the top wall of said bolster aligned transversely of said bolster with said openings, and annular flanges defining an opening in said web.

19. A cast steel bolster having a box-section end portion with a top wall, a bottom wall, lateral walls and a vertical central web, transverse walls defining with saic top and bottom walls aligned openings at opposite sides of said bolster with wedge means in each opening, and an arcuate guidcway in said top wall aligned with said wedge means. v

20. In a railway vehicle, a. supporting member having spaced vertical columns, a member springsupported thereon between said columns with lateral pockets aligned with said columns, friction shoes in said pockets bearing on inclined surfaces of a wall of said supported member at the bottom of said pockets, and an arcuate coil spring compressed between said shoes and bearing against the top wall of said supported member, said spring being operative to urge said shoes againstv said columns and against said bottom walls.

21. In a railway car truck, a side frame having bolster 'and operative to urge said shoes against said columns and against said seats.

- 9 friction shoe, and a plurality of arched coil springs compressed between said shoes and bearing against a wall of said bolster and operative to urge said shoes -against said side frame walls and to thrust said shoes against said shoe seats.

23. In a railway car truck, a side frame having spaced vertical walls, a bolster end spring-supported on said frame between said walls, pockets at the sides f said bolster yend adjacent said walls, surfaces in said pockets affording friction shoe seats, friction shoes having surfaces bearing on said seat surfaces, spaced spring seats on each friction shoe, and a plurality of arched coil springs compressed between said shoes and bearing against a wall of said bolster and operative to urge said shoes against said side frame walls and to thrust said shoes against said seat surfaces, certain of said surfaces having an arcuate form.

24. In a railway car truck, a side frame having spaced vertical walls, a bolster end spring-supported on said frame between said walls, pockets at the sides of said bolster end adjacent said walls, friction shoe seats in said pockets, friction shoes on said shoe seats, spaced spring seats on each friction shoe, and a plurality of arched coil springs compressed between said shoes and bearing against a wall of said bolster and operative to urge said shoes against said side frame walls and to thrust said shoes against said shoe seats, each of said shoesv having an arcuate surface bearing against the adjacent shoe seat.

25. In a railway car truck, a side frame having spaced columns, a bolster spring-supported thereon between said columns with lateral pockets thereadiacent, friction shoes seated upon diagonal faces in said pockets and bearing against l0 respective columns, and resilient means having opposite ends bearing against opposed diagonal faces of respective shoes and compressed therebetween, said resilient means reacting against a wall of said bolster and delivering a vertical component against said shoes.

26. In a railway car truck,a side frame having spaced columns, a bolster spring-supported thereon between said columns with lateral pockets thereadjacent, friction shoes seated upon diagonal faces in said pockets and bearing against respective columns, and resilient means having opposite ends bearing against opposed diagonal faces of respective shoes and compressed therebetween, said resilient means reacting againstA a wall of said bolster and delivering both vertical and horizontal components of force against said shoes.

RAYMOND C. PIERCE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 716,294 Shallenberger Dec, 16, 1902 1,130,665 Bullock Mar. 2, 1915 1,215,457 Wine Feb. 13, 1917 1,842,007 Blattner Jan. 19, 1932 2,053,989 Y' Goodwin f Sept. 8, 1936 2,169,715 Webb Aug. 15, 1939 2,180,900 Goodwin Nov. 21, 1939 2,229,750 Lindstrom Feb. 13, 1917 2,352,693 Davidson July 4, 1944 2,378,229 Light a.. June 12, 1945 2,392,599 Light Jan. 8, 1946 

